Early Head Start Lead Teacher

KAWERAK POSITION DESCRIPTION
Nome, AK
Recruitment Length: Two weeks, closes September 15, 2026 

JOB TITLE: Early Head Start Lead Teacher
DIVISION: Education, Employment, and Supportive Services
DEPARTMENT: Head Start
LOCATION: Onsite
POSITION STATUS: Regular, Part-Time – Hours vary by Worksite
EXEMPT STATUS: Non-exempt
PAY SCALE GRADE: 9T: HS Diploma/E 11: CDA, 12: AA, 14: BA ($32.77 – $51.09)
REPORTS TO: Program Specialist
AKBCU: Yes ICPA: Yes

The Early Head Start Lead Teacher provides a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for infants and toddlers from twelve weeks to three years of age. This position promotes children’s healthy development, social-emotional well-being, and school readiness through responsive caregiving, developmentally appropriate curriculum, and positive relationships with children and families.

The Early Head Start Lead Teacher works collaboratively with children, families, and staff to ensure high-quality early childhood services and compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, child care licensing requirements, and program policies. The Lead Teacher provides day-to-day classroom leadership, guidance, and support to classroom staff and coordinates daily classroom operations.

Early Head Start Teachers located in Nome provide Early Head Start–Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) services. Early Head Start Lead Teachers located in village communities provide Early Head Start services exclusively.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Maintain a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for infants and toddlers, including active supervision, daily health and safety practices, and compliance with required staff-to-child ratios.
• Ensure compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, licensing requirements, mandatory reporting laws, and program policies, including timely reporting of accidents, injuries, suspected abuse or neglect, and other health and safety concerns.
• Provide responsive, individualized care to infants and toddlers, including feeding, diapering, toileting, napping, meal routines, and other daily caregiving needs while promoting children’s physical, cognitive, language, social-emotional, and behavioral development.
• Serve as Lead Teacher and provide day-to-day leadership, guidance, and direction to classroom staff, including coordinating classroom operations, assigning responsibilities, arranging coverage, communicating expectations, and supporting continuity of care.
• Lead the development and implementation of curriculum, lesson plans, individualized care plans, and daily routines based on children’s interests, developmental levels, assessment information, and individual needs.
• Lead and participate in ongoing child observations, developmental screenings, assessments, and individualized planning to support school readiness, developmental progress, and positive child outcomes.
• Ensure classroom documentation is accurate, complete, and submitted within established timelines, including attendance, child observations and assessments, lesson plans, individual care plans, and other required program records.
• Coach, mentor, and support EHS Teacher staff, Trainees, and new employees through observation, modeling of developmentally appropriate and responsive caregiving practices, reflective feedback, and other support designed to strengthen classroom practices and staff development.
• Lead classroom communication and teamwork by facilitating classroom meetings, communicating expectations, addressing day-to-day classroom needs, and fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment.
• Build positive partnerships with families through regular communication regarding children’s development and classroom experiences and through participation in home visits, parent conferences, family engagement activities, and program events.
• Collaborate with Program Specialists, Family Advocates, specialists, and other staff to address children’s developmental and family needs and promote positive child and family outcomes.
• Support continuous quality improvement through classroom observations, coaching, implementation of identified improvements or corrective actions, and providing input to the Program Specialist regarding EHS Teacher performance and annual performance reviews.
• Ensure classroom materials, supplies, and equipment are safe, organized, maintained, and available to support developmentally appropriate learning and daily classroom operations.
• Participate in required staff meetings, coaching, case conferences, training, and professional development and maintain certifications required for the position.
• Maintain confidentiality of children, families, employees, and program information.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or equivalency, or an associate or Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Teaching, Preschool Education, or another closely related field that meets current Head Start Program Performance Standards. Applicants without the required CDA or equivalency may be considered for a training position and must obtain the required credential within one (1) year of hire.
• Minimum two (2) years of successful experience working with children or equivalent demonstrated experience at Kawerak working with infants, toddlers, and their families.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with infants, toddlers, or young children.
• Experience working in an Early Head Start, Head Start program or a licensed child care program.
• Experience working with Alaska Native and American Indian children and families.
• Former or current Head Start parent.
• Associate or Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field with coursework equivalent to a major in Early Childhood Education.
• Preference may be given to qualified applicants residing in the community served by the program.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and contribute to a positive work environment.
• Ability to interact respectfully and effectively with families, coworkers, and community members from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to establish positive, nurturing, and responsive relationships with infants, toddlers, and young children.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Ability to observe children’s behavior and development and follow program procedures for documentation and reporting.
• Ability to learn and implement developmentally appropriate practices, curriculum requirements, and child assessment processes.
• Ability to follow health, safety, sanitation, and active supervision requirements.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple responsibilities in a classroom environment.
• Ability to participate in ongoing training and professional development and apply new knowledge and skills in the workplace.
• Knowledge of Alaska Native cultures, traditions, and communities, or willingness to learn and incorporate culturally responsive practices into classroom activities.
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, mentoring, classroom-management and supervisory skills.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

1. Regular attendance and punctuality are essential functions of this position.
2. Must successfully complete and maintain all required pre-employment and periodic health screenings, including a physical examination upon hire and every five (5) years thereafter.
3. Must complete and maintain all training, certifications, health screenings, and clearances required by Head Start Program Performance Standards, child care licensing requirements, and Kawerak policies within established timelines.
4. Must possess current First Aid and Infant/Child (Pediatric) CPR certification or obtain certification within six (6) months of hire.
5. Must possess a current Alaska Food Worker’s Card or obtain one within two (2) weeks of hire.
6. This position is designated as a covered position and is subject to all applicable federal and state background check requirements, including fingerprint-based criminal history checks, registry reviews, and compliance with the Alaska Background Check Program, the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act, Head Start Program Performance Standards, and other applicable laws and regulations. Employment and continued employment are contingent upon obtaining and maintaining all required clearances.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described below are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequently lift and carry children weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Frequently stand, walk, sit on the floor, and transition between floor-level and standing positions while interacting with children.
• Frequently bend, stoop, kneel, squat, crawl, reach, push, and pull.
• Maintain active visual and auditory supervision and respond promptly to children’s verbal and nonverbal cues, needs, and emergencies.
• Assist children with feeding, diapering, toileting, dressing, positioning, and other daily care routines.
• Assist with the safe movement or evacuation of children during emergencies.
• Work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions and around typical classroom noise.
• Work in an environment that may involve exposure to bodily fluids, communicable illnesses, and cleaning or sanitizing products.

Native Preference per Public Law 93-638 Approved (8-26-2026)

PAY RANGES AND SLOTTING:

9T: High School Diploma/GED

11: CDA or equivalent

12: AA in Early Childhood Education or a related field

14: BA in Early Childhood Education or a related field